Medical assistants are valuable partners of doctors and nurses in hospitals, healthcare facilities like rehabilitation clinics, and nursing homes. Their wide range of clinical and administrative tasks before, during and after the actual medical consultations between the physicians and patients emphasize their importance in the delivery of healthcare services.
But is becoming a medical assistant a viable profession in terms of the monetary and non-monetary aspects? Lets then take a look at the future of aspiring medical assistants enrolled in programs such as those found in websites like bestmedicalassistantschools.net.
Increase in Job Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States, medical assistants held approximately 527,600 jobs as of 2010. Over half of these medical assistants were employed in physicians clinics and offices while the rest worked in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.
In short, whenever and wherever professional assistance in medical matters is necessary, certified medical assistants will likely find viable employment. Of course, the professional assistance may be limited to the following clinical and administrative tasks:
* Schedule patient appointments
* Use the electronic health records for patient information storage and retrieval
* Take the patients medical history and measure his vital signs
* Assist the physician during patient examinations
* Prepare the patient for laboratory exams like x-rays and blood tests
* Sterilize medical equipment
* Fill out administrative forms like insurance claims
Indeed, medical assistants are multi-talented individuals, which explains their good job prospects.
Factors in Job Growth
Despite the general slowdown in the economy, the healthcare industry has remained largely untouched by the recession for many reasons healthcare services are a must regardless of the economic status, for example. Certified medical assistants can then enjoy the benefits of a predicted job growth by as high as 31% from 2010 to 2010, which is considered as much faster than the average growth for all types of occupations in the country.
The significant growth in job opportunities can be explained as follows: The so-called baby boomers are aging, thus, their increasing demands for preventive medical services will spur the expansion of the practices of physicians. In turn, these doctors will require the professional services of medical assistants with the appropriate degrees from schools again, check the bestmedicalassistantschools.net website and certifications from industry organizations like the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
Plus, physicians are more likely to hire medical assistants because of their more affordable salaries in comparison with the likes of nurses. Think of it as getting the best services in a healthcare assistant without the expensive costs of enjoyment of said services a smart business move among doctors.
The excellent job prospects of medical assistants are also bolstered by the increasing number of healthcare facilities requiring the expertise of these professionals in the performance of both clinical and administrative duties. It must also be noted that primary care, one of the sectors in the healthcare industry, is where medical assistants excel in and that also represents additional job opportunities for them.
Yet another factor that increases the job growth and, hence, the job prospects of aspiring medical assistants is the increasing popularity of electronic health records. Medical assistants now have a new responsibility to add to their existing list, thus, making them still relevant despite the computerization of many aspects of healthcare. Besides, patients still appreciate a personalized approach in their healthcare.
After becoming certified professionals, medical assistants should expect a full-time work schedule. Like most individuals in the medical field, working during the evenings and on weekends as well as on graveyard shifts are par for the course. Busy workdays are always on the plate but the rewards come in the forms of good pay and good bonuses as well as the appreciation of fellow medical professionals and of patients for a job well done.
